The President awarded Patriarch Filaret Denisenko, the title of Hero of Ukraine

The head of state was awarded the “spiritual leader of the Ukrainian Church and the Ukrainian people,” Filaret the title of Hero of Ukraine.

January 8, 2019, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has signed a Decree on awarding “honorable current spiritual mentor” of the newly created ecclesiastical structure “Patriarch” Filaret Denisenko, the title of Hero of Ukraine with presentation of State order, said the official website of the presidential Administration.

“The title of Hero of Ukraine Filaret awarded for outstanding historical role in the formation of the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine, activities aimed at the revival of spirituality of the Ukrainian people, the rise of the authority of the Orthodox Church, the statement of ideals of mercy and interfaith accord”, – said in the Administration.

The President himself called the father “the spiritual leader of the Ukrainian people”.

“Have not invented the measures which can be used to measure the contribution of Patriarch Filaret in the struggle for their own local Church. He was, is and remains the spiritual leader of the Ukrainian Church, the spiritual leader of the Ukrainian people. That’s why decided to assign him the title “Hero of Ukraine””, – wrote the President in Facebook.

SPM previously reported that deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted for the introduction of the anniversary of Filaret Denisenko in the list of memorable dates of 2019.